Blytheville – Today state senator Steve Bryles, a democratic candidate for the 1st Congressional District seat being vacated by the retiring Marion Berry, unveiled a three-step plan for getting the Arkansas economy on the road to recovery.
“Now, I don’t pretend to have all the answers to getting our economy back on track, but I do have some common sense ideas that I think will stimulate job growth here in Arkansas over a short period of time,” said Bryles.
Step one of the plan includes establishing a Federal Quick Action Economic Development Closing Fund for areas with high poverty and unemployment rates. “ I will push for a demonstration project specific to the First District, perhaps administered through the Delta Regional Authority, that will create a $25 million fund that can be tapped to attract new industry or help existing companies expand. Additionally, I will work with federal officials to coordinate training seminars in poverty stricken areas to give local economic development officials the “know how” to tap the closing fund when opportunity presents itself. Obviously our current programs are not working, we are not doing enough and we need to do more.”
“Arkansas has had success attracting new industry utilizing a quick action economic development closing fund. I want to see the federal government follow Arkansas’ lead by making a fund available to our rural communities in the first district who are in need of an economic shot in the arm,” said Bryles.
The second step in Bryles plan includes utilizing more Arkansas-produced, clean burning, abundant natural gas and providing incentives for the production of renewable bio-fuel. “Domestically produced natural gas is a lightly tapped American resource. Exploration and production has produced hundreds of thousands of jobs, but we haven’t begun to reach the full potential. New shale gas formations are being discovered regularly making gas supply abundant and pricing stable.”
“In Congress, I will work to pass laws and encourage regulatory agencies to adopt policies that make natural gas the priority fuel stock for future electricity generation. I will sponsor legislation to study the feasibility of converting government owned vehicles to clean burning natural gas and renewable bio-fuels. I will also encourage my colleagues to enact tax credits for construction of natural gas fuel stations and for the conversion of farming equipment to burn the fuel and further expand the bio-fuels tax credit. We must encourage investment in alternative fuel sources that creates jobs in Arkansas and also reduces our dependency on foreign oil.”
The final step in Bryles’ plan entails creating incentives to deploy high-speed Internet into rural areas. “Small business is the number one creator of jobs in America. We should give those technology driven businesses and our farmers located in rural America the tools to compete on state, national and international levels. We should also provide tax incentives to lower income individuals for the purchase of a computer, allowing them access to technology and to engage in the cyber world.”
“I will make it a priority to work with the Federal Communications Commission, telecom companies and Internet service providers to deploy high-speed Internet into our rural communities putting an end to the digital divide. I will work to get broadband service to small businesses and farmers located in rural areas. And, I will work to see that those who can’t afford to purchase a computer will be given an incentive to join the digital world” Bryles concluded.
“My top priority in Congress will be jobs, jobs, jobs. I have a record of creating jobs. Working with local and state officials we developed incentives that allowed my home county to attract new industry and helped existing companies grow. More than 2,700 good paying jobs were created, and hundreds more are on the way.”
Steve Bryles represents Mississippi and Poinsett counties in the Arkansas Senate. He was elected in 2000 and is now term limited.
